Lethally In Love

Chapter One

--- This story begins directly after the arena explosion in Catching Fire, inside of the hovercraft that Katniss had been fished out of the arena with.
---

My lips are quivering in dehydration, and my body is aching from head to toe when I wake up. The last thing I remember was an explosion caused by lightning, bigger than I had ever seen before. The dome of the arena had collapsed in the dead of night because of my arrow, revealing the real sky beyond it, and entirely crashing the Capitol's network. I had been too fragile, too weak to even move, when a hovercraft claw came to pick me up. I thought about home, and I thought about the fact that I would probably never wake up again after that. I thought about Prim, and Gale. I thought about my mother, and then I thought about Peeta. He was in the arena somewhere, and I was leaving him behind. Who knew if he was even still alive? Halfway to the hovercraft, I blacked out, and don't remember a thing from then on.

The place I'm laying is nothing but a mat on the floor of the hovercraft. There's an IV in my arm, and an oxygen mask suctioned to my nose and mouth. My mind is racing, and I know I'm not getting enough oxygen even with the mask, because I'm feeling nauseous and light headed. I hear voices, and I wonder what my fate would be if I was to get up and walk through that door into the control room. I feel as if I'm lucky enough to even be alive right now, but then realize that it isn't lucky at all. I almost want to be dead. The only reason I'd ever want to stay alive after all of this, is if I had my family to protect; or had Peeta to protect. I'm at a loss for wisdom, and decide that I want to take a chance, even if it means I'll be taking my last breath within the next few minutes.

I undo my IV strap and sit up on the mat, ripping the velcro on the oxygen mask and placing all the medical instruments on the floor. I glance around the room, taking in the sights, when I spot Beetee passed out on a mat towards the other side of the room. "Beetee." I say weakly, pushing myself onto my hands and knees so that I can crawl over to his unconscious body. For a moment I'm convinced he isn't breathing, but after a moment of watching his mask, I can see his breath fog up in the plastic. I place my palm on his leg, gently shaking it to awake him; but he won't even react. "Please, I need you." I can't do this on my own... I'm too afraid. Beetee would know what the smart thing to do was, but he was out like a light. I didn't know what else to do.

Sinking back on my heels, I take in the room with a bit more concentration. Two more mats are sitting there, one with medical equipment, another just sitting there all folded up. I quickly figure that it probably meant there was one more tribute on this hovercraft. I prayed for a moment that it was Peeta, but then changed my mind when I realized who ever the tribute was, was probably dead.

I gather up every bit of nerve I have and steady my weight back onto my feet. With trembling knees, I stand and make my way towards the main control room, but not without grabbing a medical syringe on my way there. I held it as a weapon in one hand, as I listen carefully at the voices. "Peeta's in the Capitol! How do you possibly expect me to tell that to her?" I stop in front of the door, pressing my ear to it; but my heart stops, because I hadn't realized it was an automatic door.

It slides open, and I come face to face with three people who I certainly did not expect to see. "Haymitch?" I take a step back, the syringe now clenched in my fist. "What are you doing with them?" I ask in a shocked sort of tone, referring to the two other people in the room. Finnick Odair, and Plutarch Heavensbe. Finnick must have been the tribute who's empty mat was laying on the floor. Between him and Johanna, I don't think I've ever hated anyone that much in my life. I never thought it was possible to hate so much; but then I look at Plutarch, and I'm able to correct myself on that. "Why is Peeta in the Capitol!?" I'm raising my voice now. My face is probably hideous with hurt and complete anger, because Finnick is looking at me like he's seen a ghost the moment I say this.